Pushpa Wood is part of the coalition of ethnic communities formed to support the demand for an advisory group at Wellington City Council. Photo: Supplied
Financial wellbeing researcher Dr Pushpa Wood has spent her life delving into financial capability and what people need to make better economic decisions.
She was recently named as named by the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIA) as one of 50 Money Changers globally. The award recognises individuals and organisations who have made significant strides in reshaping the landscape of financial literacy and inclusion. Dr Wood was previously the Education Manager at the Commission for Financial Capability and has worked in financial literacy across the school, tertiary, and industry sectors.
Her research interests include identifying what motivates people to change their financial behaviour, preparedness of women in planning for their future, and testing culturally appropriate evaluation tools. She is currently director of Massey University's Financial Education and Research Centre.
